Monday AFTERNOON'S Bruins

[the mugs]

ST. LOUIS BLUES at
BOSTON BRUINS
Monday, January 21, 2002
FleetCenter; Boston, Massachusetts
1:00 pm (ET) - Gametime
12:30 pm (ET) - Bruins Digest
NESN
Today's Game
The Bruins host the Blues today in the second of two games between these teams this season and the Blues' lone visit of the season to the FleetCenter. The Bruins are 26-13-3-6 overall this season with a 16-6-0-3 record on home ice. The Blues are 26-12-6-3 overall this season with an 8-8-5-2 record on the road. The Bruins are 1-1-1-1 vs. Central Division opponents thus far this season and are 5-5-3-1 overall vs. Western Conference foes. The Blues are 4-1-0-1 vs. Northeast Division opponents thus far this season and are 10-3-0-2 overall vs. Eastern Conference foes.

Lifetime Series
The Bruins are 79-44-20-2 lifetime vs. the Blues with a 584-463 scoring advantage in those 145 games. On home ice, the Bruins are 52-13-6-0 lifetime vs. St. Louis with a 323-202 scoring edge in those 71 games. The Blues took the first game of this season's series with a 2-1 overtime win in St. Louis on Jan. 19. The Bruins won the last game between these teams in Boston with a 5-1 decision on Jan. 30, 2001.

Recent Bruins Games
The Bruins have taken points out of six of their last seven games at 4-1-0-2, with a 7-4 win over Washington on Jan. 5, a 3-2 victory in Pittsburgh on Jan. 8 and a 5-0 win over Los Angeles on Jan. 10, a 5-4 loss to the NY Islanders on Jan. 12, a 1-0 overtime loss in Washington on Jan. 14, a 5-2 win over Ottawa on Jan. 17 and a 2-1 overtime loss in St. Louis on Jan. 19. They are 10-3-0-2 in their last 15 games, including their longest win streak of the season with a five-game win streak from Dec. 20-29, are 12-5-0-3 in their last 20 games, and have taken points out of 19 of their last 25 games at 15-6-0-4.

The Bruins are 11-4-0-1 in their last 16 home games and are 8-2-0-3 in their last 13 road games.

Recent Blues Games
The Blues have won eight straight games with a 4-2 win over Columbus on Jan. 3, 5-2 win vs. Dallas on Jan. 5, 6-2 win in San Jose on Jan. 8, 3-2 victory in Anaheim on Jan. 9, 4-1 win at Pittsburgh on Jan. 12, 3-2 victory over Edmonton on Jan. 15, 5-4 win over Vancouver on Jan. 17 and 2-1 overtime win over Boston on Jan. 19. Their last loss was a 2-1 setback in New Jersey on Jan. 1. They are 11-3-0-1 in their last 15 games.

Upcoming Bruins Games
The Bruins will next face a two-game road trip to NY Rangers on Jan. 23 and to Ottawa on Jan. 24. They will return home to host Florida on Jan. 26.

Upcoming Blues Games
The Blues continue their current three-game road trip in Buffalo on Jan. 23 and in Chicago on Jan. 25. They will return home to host Detroit on Jan. 26.

Bruins Injuries
Kyle McLaren: Dec. 28 surgery to repair a torn right wrist ligament; out indefinitely.
Total Man-Games Lost: 101

Bruins January Transactions
Jan. 12: Scott Pellerin claimed on waivers by Dallas.
Jan. 12: Acquired Benoit Hogue from Dallas for future considerations.
Jan. 14: Recalled Dennis Bonvie from Providence/AHL and returned him to Providence/AHL after the game.
Jan. 15: Gord Murphy invited to practice with team on a try-out basis.

Blues Injuries
Scott Young: Jan. 10 eye surgery; 2 weeks.
Rich Pilon: Jan. 9 wrist surgery; out indefinitely.

 

[the mugs]

Trends...

Trends...

STL is 14-6-1 ATS on one days rest.
STL is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
The Blues have won their last eight overall ATS.
(BLUES 9-1 SU & ATS in last 10)


BOS is 4-0 ATS in afternoon games.
BOS is 8-4 ATS at home following a loss.
BOS is 3-1 ATS in their last four home games.

 

[the mugs]

Ding Ding...Round 2

Ding Ding...Round 2

B's, Blues in Round 2

Monday, January 21, 2002

If the Bruins didn't like their 2-1 overtime loss in St. Louis on Saturday night, they didn't have to wait very long for a chance to even the score.

This afternoon at the FleetCenter, the Bruins and Blues will complete the second half of a rare home-and-home series (1:05 p.m., NESN).

``I think it's good,'' said Bruins winger Martin Lapointe, who scored the only Bruins goal Saturday. ``When you lose in OT like that, the guys want to play the game right away. It's good we're playing (today) and it's the same team, and I think the guys are going to be ready. It's important that we bounce back and I'm sure we will.''

The Bruins, who were 0-for-4 on the power play in the loss, practiced man-advantage situations yesterday afternoon at the FleetCenter.

``Our power play really hurt us,'' Lapointe said. ``We know that. Every time you get a chance with a man-advantage, you've got to cash in. It might be the goal that makes the difference.''

Bruins coach Robbie Ftorek echoed Lapointe's assessment that a more efficient power play could have turned the tide.

``No question (special teams) was the difference (Saturday). They've got a great power play and our power play struggled a little bit,'' Ftorek said. ``We want to stay out of the box and take advantage when they get in it.

``We may initiate a little more of the physical play (today), but that's a normal thing for the home team to be a little bit more aggressive with the crowds and everything. There's only a few of these (home-and-home series) during the course of the year. They're fun. It adds a little bit of excitement. It was a good game (Saturday) so it should carry over. The greatest thing is you never know what it's going to be like. (Saturday) was a hard game with good hitting and a lot of good pace and scoring chances. I'd say it was a relatively clean game. I would expect you'd see the same thing.''

 

[the mugs]

Injuries - Flu Bug

Injuries - Flu Bug

Defenseman Hal Gill, who missed much of Saturday's game with the flu, took yesterday off.

In Gill's absence Saturday, fellow blueliner Sean O'Donnell played an amazing 33 minutes, 36 seconds and was a plus-one. Blues defenseman Chris Pronger played 30:50 and was a minus-one. . . .

Injured Bruins defenseman Kyle McLaren was to have his arm-length cast removed Friday and replaced by a short arm cast. He said the surgically repaired right wrist was feeling good and he thinks he's on schedule for an early March return.

``I started riding the bike last week, and I'll continue that until I basically have no cast on,'' said McLaren, who previously had the right arm in a sling because the cast was heavy. . .

 

[the mugs]

My opinion...

My opinion...

I didn't see the game Sat night so I really haven't seen Saint Looie play this year. As well as the Bruins have played this year the Blues are so hot right now, I wouldn't touch the B's today. I don't have a good enough feel for this year's Blues and the recent history between the two team have heavily favored St. Looie so I'm passing and rooting for the B's as a fan.

 

[Frogy]

Its a "pass" for me........
Good luck to all.